Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressing the UN General Assembly, said Iran was keeping a “secret atomic warehouse” in Iran.
“Well, Mr. Amano, do the right thing. Go inspect this atomic warehouse, immediately, before the Iranians finish clearing it out,” he said.
In response, IAEA chief Yukiya Amano said: “The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) sends inspectors to sites and locations only when needed. The agency uses all safeguards relevant to information available to it but it does not take any information at face value.”
Amano stressed that the agency should not take side with any state as it investigates Iran’s commitment to its pledges in the nuclear deal, signed in 2015.
“In order to maintain credibility, the agency’s independence in relation to the implementation of verification activities is of paramount importance,” he added.
“The agency sends inspectors to sites and locations only when needed. The agency uses all safeguards relevant to information available to it but it does not take any information at face value,” Amano said.